MY FIRST CHANEL PURCHASE - THE SLINGBACKS

Monday, 10 April 2017

So you know I mentioned in my life update post about making my first ever Chanel purchase? Well, here it is! I’ve owned many Chanel beauty products, but owning something other than makeup from the brand was something I never thought would happen for me. I am petrified of walking into designer stores. Ricardo would tell you! It took me 3 days to finally gain the courage to walk into Chanel. The day before I made the purchase we were making our way there and all of a sudden I said ‘let’s go back to the hotel’. Ricardo did try to tell me how stupid I sounded and that I have every right to enter a designer shop, but for some reason I just couldn’t bring myself to reach the door!

However, on the last day before we left I decided to woman up and enter the shop! We were actually on our way back to the hotel when I said ‘sod it, I’m going into Chanel’. I knew what I was going for, the ever so famous slingbacks. I know you’re probably thinking they’re so last season, but the thing is that to me, they’re timeless. I didn’t see these immediately, I saw a burgundy pair, a lace pair and a black pair. But under a pile of shoes a girl was trying on, I saw these beauties.

Ideally I would have preferred them in leather, rather than suede, but they only had my size in the suede. I was in Chanel for the first time, in Rome, trying on shoes, and I just got swept up into buying them. Ricardo loved them too, so it was a no brainer. The whole experience happened very fast. All in all it must’ve taken 30-40 mins in total and no champagne in sight! The store was crowded and the sales assistants were all running up and down. I imagined a store this luxurious would be a lot calmer and quieter, but not in Rome I guess. The sales assistant was lovely and very helpful. She took the shoes into the back to have them packaged up and sent me to the till. I paid and waited around 10-15 mins for the shoes to be brought to me.

It sounds silly, but I was so ecstatic after!! I couldn’t believe I had made my first ever Chanel purchase. Little old me walking around the Spanish Steps in Rome, carrying a Chanel shopping bag. It was surreal! After the excitement wore off, I started to worry if maybe I got pressured into buying them, not by anyone other than myself. I kept thinking if maybe I just bought them to prove a point to the sales assistant, if maybe I had bought them because I didn’t want to walk out empty handed, if they were in fact the correct size and would I be able to exchange them if they weren’t? Uff, I tell you, the thoughts running through my mind were real haha.

Eventually I unboxed them and walked around in them for a bit. I will tell you, at first they got me worried! The strap at the back seemed like it was falling off, but actually it’s just because it sits lower than regular slingbacks. It’s a bizarre feeling at first, but once you get used to it they are the most comfortable shoes ever. They’re very classic so I initially wasn’t sure how much wear I would get out of them, but they’re the shoes I reach for the most at the moment. They go with jeans, skirts, shorts, t-shirts, dresses... absolutely everything. They are a very versatile piece that can be dressed up or down and are a real eye catcher. I always find people walking by and staring down at my shoes. I’ve also been stopped and asked where they’re from. So yeah, last season my ass haha, Chanel will always be in style.

Considering how much I’ve worn them, they still look pristine. The suede isn’t dirty at all and the sole is hardly marked. Of course I took care of the suede before wearing them, so hopefully they’ll look their best for as long as possible. I paid €650 in Rome, which worked out to be around £540. It is a hell of a lot, but I think they’re so special and they really make you feel that way when you wear them. I would highly recommend them for anyone who is on the fence about them. In terms of sizing, I went up half a size. One, because they didn’t have my size in stock and second, I didn’t want my heel to hang out the shoe.

Sorry for how long this post was, but I just had to describe my experience. I’m also thinking of writing a post on how I afford luxury pieces. I don’t own many designer things, but I think it would be nice to see how someone with a regular job, and someone that doesn’t come from a rich background can afford to buy a designer item every now and then. Let me know if that would be something you’d read.